Beverage dispensing apparatus



J. I .NoRToN ETAL 2,270,383

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS File-d sept. 12, 1959 4 sheets-'sheet 1Jan@ 2o, 1942.

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Jan. 20, 1942. J. L. NORTON ET A1.

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. l2, 1939 4 SheetsSheet 2'ATToRlvEx/v.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F- E IN VEN TOR az. /vo/Pro/ A. S. L E V//V/ xToRNEY l.L. NORTON ETAL BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1959 Jan.20, 1942.

- Jan. 20, 1942. J. L. NORTN ETAL BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filedsept. 12, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENToR 2' L. 0,9 70A/ A. s. 2 f/f/ I'ATTORNEY 3 under the apparatus.

Patented Jan. 20, 1942 BEVERAGE DISPENSING vAPPARATUS John L. Norton andAbraham `S. Levin, Philadelphia, Pa.; 'said Norton assignor to saidLevin Application September 12, 1939, Serial No. 294,524

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in beverage dispensing apparatus,and While suitable for thevdispensing of beverages generally isespecially adapted `for gassy beverages, such as beer.

Briefly and generally stated, the present invention has for its primaryobject to improve upon the beverage dispenser disclosed in the John LL.Norton Patent No. 2,167,309, dated July 25, .1939.

More specifically, itis an important object of the instant applicationto provide a beveragedispensing apparatus incorporating one oraplurality `of individual beverage dispensing units, each of which latterincludes a` separable section beverage cooling and dispensing container,and means including a conduit member for lholding the containerpartsassembled, said means, however, admitting of ready separation yofthe dispensing container parts for cleaning purposes.

A further object of the invention nis to provide 'a beverage dispenserwherein the gas venting means and storage vessel drain discharge into acommon drain pan which is also disposed to catch drippings 'from thebeverage dispensing tap, or taps--the nature of the construction beingsuch that all valves and pipes lincorporated in said drain andventmeans, and in an associated 'means for'ilushing out the same and thebeverage container, are made conveniently available at the bartendersside of the dispenser without necessitating crawling funder, orireaching The positioning of the pipes and valves aforementioned isalso` such that vthey will be protected against damage in shipment ofthe apparatus. The invention also resides in the provision,in'associ'ation with a beverage storing and dispensing container, of anovel multiple valve-incorporating casing providing drain 'and ventingmeans for the beverage container; a ushing means for the container, itsbeverage outlet, and said drain and venting means; a support for abeverage inow pipe; and which valve-casing may also furnish reinforcingmeans for either or both of the beverage container and the cooling uidtank in which said beverage container is disposed.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a beveragedispenser Which is simple in construction, easily cleaned, economical tooperate, the arrangements being such that the beverage can'be readily)7maintained at a predetermined temperature and/or pressure; and whereinmeans is provided for making readily available cool drinking Waterand/or Seltzer Water.

The invention also resides in certain features of construction,combination, and arrangement of the various parts and in modes andmethods of operation-al1 of which will be readily understood andappreciated by those skilled in the art, uponreference to theaccompanying drawings in connection with the detailed descriptionappearing hereinafter.

In the drawings illustrating the `now preferred `form of theinvention-Which, however, is susceptible of considerable change andmodification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims- Figure1 is a perspective View of a portion of a Vbar showing the beveragedispensing apparatus in place-certain parts of the latter being brokenaway and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of an inner casing or tank for thebeverage cooling fluid;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of one of the gispensing unitstaken on line 4 4 of Figure Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View takenon the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure l6 is a horizontal sectional View through one of the multiplevalve-incorporating casings, taken `on line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on line 'l--l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View through one of the purge cocksfor exhausting excess air pressure; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the casing sectionand unit connection.

`Referring to the drawings by reference characters, numeralv I0designates the usual counterlike bar which is out out at its inner edge,as indicated at I0a, to receive the outer casing II of the beveragedispenser. Angle irons IIa secured to said outer casing II below the topthereof rest upon the bar 0rv counter ID, as indicated in Figure 1, soas to support the casing II in place with its top disposed substantiallyabove the plane of the counter I0. Outer casing II has the closure A,Whose downtulrned endless Wall terminates in a bead portion A' whichrests upon angle iron I la.

'Ihe inner casing I3, indicated as Within the outer casing II and brokenaway in Figure 1, is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 3illustrates that the endless, laterally extending top flange I3a of theinner casing I3 is supported by the top ange IIc of the inwardlyslanting upper wall portions IIb of outer casing II, so as to space saidcasings apart except at this point. The top of outer casing closure A isdisposed well above the plane of the top of inner casing I3, asindicated. A gasket B is preferably interposed between flanges I3a, IIeand the same clamped tightly in place by machine screws or the like C.The space between the two casings II, I3 will preferably be lled withsuitable insulating material I4, as indicated in Figure 3.

In carrying out the invention, the inner casing I3 is lled, orsubstantially filled, with a solution of alcohol and water, or someother solution having a lower freezing point than water.

As illustrated herein, the beverage dispenser comprehends three separateand independent beer or other dispensing units, one of which is shown invertical section in Figure 3. Each dispensing unit includes a beveragestorage container comprising a cup-like lower section I5 and a.dome-like upper section I6, which latter is supported by the shoulderI5b of a thickened lip IEa at the upper end of the cup-like lowercontainer section I5. Lip I5a, as shown, lies close to the under surfaceof the cover A of casing II. A suitable gasket I1 is interposed betweenshoulder I5b and the open lower end of the upper container section I6,as shown.

It is to be noted that the top wall closure A of outer casing II and thetop wall of inner casing I3 have aligned holes I Ic, |31) through whichthe beverage storage containers I5, I6 extend. Gasket I1 seals the spacebetween the wall of hole IIc and the dome-like upper container sectionI6 and engages the under surface of closure A of the outer casingsection II. The lower surface of each lip I5a rests upon the top wall ofthe inner casing section I3 to seal the space about the lower cup-likecontainer section I5, whereby to conne the alcohol and water, or othersolution to the inner casing I3. It is also to be noted that lip I5aconstitutes a means for supporting the container assembly I5, I6 withits lower cup-like section I5 immersed in the solution in the tank orcasing I3 and spaced above the bottom thereof.

An additional support for the respective container assemblies I5, I6 isprovided by the spaced concentric disks I8a, I8b of a multiplevalve-incorporating casting I8. Figure 3 illustrates that the upper diskI8a underlies the bottom of cup section I5, and that the lower disk |81)seats on the bottom of the outer casing I3. By preference, the disks Ia,I8b will be soldered or welded to cup section I5 andthe bottom wall ofthe inner casing I3, respectively.

The upstanding portion I8c of casing I8 which carries the disks I8a, I8bprovides the combined air relief and ushing water inflow passage I9 (seeFigures 3 and '7), and the separate drain outlet passage 29 (Figure 5)communicating between the beverage storage container I5, I6 and separatechambers in said valve-incorporating casting IS-all as Will be presentlyexplained in detail.

The lower and major portion of each upper dome-like container section I6is of glass, as indicated at I6a, so as to display the beverage to bedispensed, and it includes a preferably cast bronze chrome finished capI 6b. This cap Ib has the concentric inwardly bevelled seat I6c in itstop to receive the correspondingly formed under peripheral portion ofthe metal plug or nut 22. Nut 22 provides the sleeve 22a which is 75adapted to thread onto the upper end of an upstanding pipe 23 which, aswill be hereinafter explained, constitutes a combined vent outlet andflushing water inlet pipe. The lower end of pipe 23 extends through thebottom of cup member I5 and is soldered or otherwise secured in theupper end of the passage I9 of casting portion I8c.

Apertures 22e in plug sleeve 22al above the upper end of pipe 23establish communication between the same and the interior of thecontainer I5, I6. A gasket 2I is interposed in the joint betweencontainer parts I6a., I6b. As will be evident, the container parts I5,I6, I6a will be tightly locked in place by screwing down the plug 22,22a on pipe 23. The upper face of plug 22 provides the sockets 22o forlugs of a special wrench (not shown), but, of course, it may beotherwise formed to admit of being turned by an ordinary wrench.

Turning now to the multiple valve-incorporating casing I8, shown inFigure 5, it will be noted that the drain passage 20 opens into thedrain chamber 24 of valve casing I8 which communicates through the valveseat 25 with the valve chamber 26 having the outlet passage 21. Valvecasing I8 has the portion 28 carrying the forwardly extending drain pipe29 which communicates with drain passage 21 and leads out through thefront Wall 30 of the outer casing II. The removable drain spout 3| onthe outer end of drain pipe 29 discharges into drain pan I2, as shown. l

The valve 32 which controls the drain flow through seat 25 has its stem33 threaded as usual in a packing gland-incorporating portion 32a ofcasing I8; and the outer end 33a of said stem is square so as to t inthe socket end of a wrench 33h which is used for opening and closingsaid valve 32. By preference, there will be a tube 34 (see Figures 1 and3) through which wrench 33D is inserted, said tube being in part carriedby the outer end of stem-carrying portion 32a and in part by a plate 35which is secured by screws 36 to cover a hole 30a in the front wall 30of the outer casing II.

Figures 3, 6 and '1 show the valve-incorporating casing I8 as providedwith the air pressure relief chamber 31 which is separate from the drainchamber 24 and is located alongside the latter. This air relief chamber31 is in open communication with the air pressure relief passage I9 withwhich vent pipe 23 communicates. Chamber 31 has the laterally extendingoutlet 38 (Fig. 6) carrying the outlet pipe 39 (Fig. 3) whose outer endhas the coupling member 40, which has a threaded socket portion whichextends through front wall 30 of casing II and receives the rearthreaded end 40a of the casing 40 of a relief valve 4I, shown in Figures1, 3 and 8.

Relief valve casing 40 has its air inlet passage 40b terminating in aseat 42 which opens into valve chamber 43 which has the outlet 44.

Relief valve 4I has the coil spring 45 disposed about its stem 46, oneend of said spring abutting the valve shoulder 4Ia, and the other endagainst the adjustable cap 41 which is threaded on the outer end of saidcasing 40. A knurled disk 48 is xedly secured to the outer end of cap 41to facilitate the turning of same to vary the compression of spring 45and consequently the amount of pressure necessary to unseat valve 4I.

As shown, the beverage inlet pipe 49 for each container I5, I6, whichleads from a supply keg (not shown) passes up through air relief passageI9 of valve casing I3, and up through pipe '23 to a point adjacent thetop thereof where it turns laterally and opens vinto container I5, I6through a hole 23a in vent pipe 23.

The means for ushing out and cleaning not only the entire interior ofbeverage storage casing I5, Iii-and valve casing I8, .but also allpassages `leading thereto and therefrom, including the beverage inletpipe 449 will now be described.

Figures 2 and 3 show valve casing I8 as having the rearwardly extendingprojection providing the water inflow chamber 5I, and Figure 6illustrates that each water inflow chamber 5I forms a part of a flushingwater supply line 52. The remote end of the flushing water supply lineis shown as closed by a plug 53 threaded into the outer side of thewater inflow chamber wall of the rightmost valve casing I8 in Figure 2.

Each iiushing water inflow chamber 5I is separated from its air pressurerelief chamber 31 by a valve seat 54 against which a valve 55 will bekept seated except when the apparatus is to be flushed out. The flushingwater control Valve 55, which is similar to the drain control Valve 32,works in the vent relief valve chamber 31, and its stem 56 has thesquared end 55a to receive socket wrench 33h. The valve stem 56 is, ofcourse, threaded as usual in the packing gland-incorporating portion 55aof valve casing I8, and said gland portion 55a, together with plate 35,support a guide tube 34 for directing the socket wrench to the squaredvalve stem end 56a. p

Figure 2 indicates that water from the city water supply is passed toiiushing water supply line 52, 5I from a pipe 58 in which isincorporated a pressure regulator 59. This pipe 53 opens into one headbranch of the T-connection 60 whose stem branch is connected to llushingwater pipe 52. The other head branch of T-coupling 60 is connected toone end of'an elongated drinking water cooling and storage casing 6Iwhich is mounted lengthwise under casing I3 and closely adjacent to thecold bottom thereof, as shown in Figure 3.

From the other end of the drinking water cooling and storage casing 6Ileads the drinking water supply pipe 62 which extends forwardly adjacentthe bottom of the inner casing I3 and upwardly adjacent its front wall,as best shown in Figure 2. A tap 63 on the end of drinking water supplypipe 62 at the exterior of the front wall of the outer casing II makesavailable at all times a supply of drinking water which has been cooledby the contact of storage casing 6I with the cold bottom wall of innercasing I3.. Inner casing I3 will preferably be of copper or some equallygood conductor of heat and cold.

A beverage dispensing cock 64 for each beverage storage chamber I5, I6is shown, carried by front Wall 39, and Figure 3 shows the beveragedispensing ypipe 6,5 which communicates therewith as being coiled as at65a, and having a strainerinlet 66 adjacent the bottom of beveragesupply chamber I5, I6.

A continuous refrigerant pipe 61 which is incorporated in the circuit of-a compressor (not shown) provides coils 61a soldered or otherwisesecured to the exterior wall of each cup portion I5 of the beveragestorage casing I5, I6. Said coils and cup portions I5 are, of course,immersed in the alcohol and water or other low freezing point solutionin the inner tank or casing I3, so that said solution can be maintainedat a predetermined temperature. By having the fit individual refrigerantcoils indirect contact with cup members I5 very quick cooling `of thecontents of beverage containers I5, I6 is possible when the compressorris started.

So that cold carbonated or seltzer water may be supplied, there isprovided a SeltzerV supply pipe 68 leading from a suitable 'source ofsupply and provided with the coil 68a, adjacent the front wall of tankI3 for cooling purposes. The seltzer pipe 68 has the cock or tap 69carried by front wall 33 of the outer casing II and threaded into `aterminal fitting secured to the front wall of inner casing I3.

A drain 'I0 for the cold solution tank or inner casing I3 is shown inFigure l2. This casing I3. will have a suitable 'filling opening in thetop (not shown) for admission of the alcohol and water or other lowfreezing point solution.

The operation of the apparatus may be briey summarized as follows:

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying draw-ings, it will be evident that when the plug, ornut, 22is tightened down on the threaded upper end of the vent pipe 23 (seeFigure 3) the container parts I5, I6a, Iib` will be held in fluid tight`assembly because the vent pipe 23 is welded or otherwise rigidlysecured in the air pressure relief passage I9 of the multiplevalve-incorporating casting I8. It is a simple matter to removecontainer parts I6cL, I6b by lsimply removing the nut or plug 22.

The use of the glass dome portion I5a as a part of the dispensingcontainers I5, I6 is very important from asales point of view, becausethe customer can `actually see the beverage which he is buying.

The disposition of the refrigerant coils 61a in immediate contact withthe bottom, or cup portions I5 of the dispensing containers I5, I6 makesfor quick cooling of the beverage therein,-and consequently shorterperiods of compressor operation, which results in economy in` operationof the apparatus. The alcohol and water solution in the tank or innercasing I3 will, of course, be cooled by the refrigerant `coils and pipe61a, 61 and serves to maintain the beverage in dispensers I5, `I6 cool.There will, of course, be thermostatic control associated with tank orcasing I3 for maintaining the solution therein at a predeterminedtemperature by operation of the refrigerant compressor, not shown. Thisis conventional practice and for that reason has not been illustrated.

The disposition of the coil 68a of the se'ltzer water pipe 68, veryclosely adjacent the cold front wall of the refrigerant tank orcasingI`3 assures of a cool, butnot too cold, supply of seltzer water at thetap 69 at all times. Likewise, the arrangement of the drinking storagecasing 6I (Figure 3) adjacent the bottom of `the tank or inner casingI3, assures of constant supply of cool drinking water to water tap 64.

When it is desired to flush out the various units I5, I6 and theirvarious passages, it is only necessary to open the normally closed drainand water control valves 32, 55, after iirst, of course, disconnectingthe appropriate beverage inflow pipes 49 from their sources of supply.Flushing water under city main pressure, predeterminedly reduced in wellknown manner by the water pressure regulator 58a (Figure 2) then passesfrom pipe line 52 through the water inflow chamber 5I of valve casingI8, through the valve seat 54, and into the air pressure outlet chamber31. From the air pressure outlet chamber 3'I of valve casing I8 a flowof water passes out gas relief pipe 39 and purge cock 40; and likewiseup the passage I9 and upstanding vent pipe 23 and out through the sleeveholes 22e in the plug or nut member 22 into the container I5, I6.

It will frequently be desirable to close drain valve 32 to effectpressure discharge of the water from the casing or receptacle I5, I6 outthrough the beverage inlet pipe 49. Also, when beverage tap 64 isopened, the beverage outlet pipe 66, 65, 65a will be flushed out.Inasmuch as the beverage tap 64, drain spout 3I, and the air outlet, orpurge cock 40 all discharge into the frontal drain pan I2, there is nonecessity to provide a special receptacle for receiving and carrying offthe flushing water.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing, it is a simple matter tomaintatin the apparatus clean at all times so as to assure of the beer,or other beverage having its normal proper taste.

The purge cock 40 will be adjusted so that its valve 4I will unseat tolet out excess air pressure from the top portion of dispensing containerI5,

I6. This feature is important as it assures of a substantially uniformair pressure on the beverage in containers I5, I6 at all times. Thisenables the bartender to draw uniform glasses of a beverage, such asbeer, without excess foaming, as is usually the case and necessitatestopping of the glassor tediously slow filling of the same.

All metal parts with which the beverage comes in contact will be ofnon-corrosive material which lends itself to ready cleaning, and isimpervious to chemical attack by the constituents of the beverage.

In conclusion, attention is invited to the multi-function nature of theplural valve casting I8 with its rigidly carried upstanding vent pipe 23and disks I8a, I8b. Pipe 23 and valve casing I8 support beverage inletpipe 49 in addition to serving as a tie means to hold beverage containerparts I5, I6a, IBb assembled. Disk I8b seats the valve casing assemblyin place at the bottom of the inner casing II, while the upper disk I8acarries the lower beverage container member I5. And in addition to itsventing and drain providing functions, valve casing I8 makes theconnection 50 with the flushing water line 52.

Finally, the valve casing I8, acting through its disk portions I8a Iband the passage-providing portion I8c which are immersed in the coldalcohol and water solution in the tank or inner casing I3, transmits, byconduction, the coldness of the solution to the vent pipe 23, which isimmersed in the beverage in container I5, II-as a further aid inmaintaining same cold.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is:

1. The combination of a beverage dispensing apparatus comprising spacedinner and outer casings, the inner casing providing a cooling uidcontaining chamber, lineally spaced beverage dispensing containerscarried by said inner casing and extending into said cooling fluidchamber, a refrigerant carrying pipe in said chamber and having portionscoiled about said beverage containers in direct contact therewith, avalve casing between the walls of said casings, conduit providing meanscarried by said valve casing and extending into said beverage dispensingcontainer, and lineally spaced supporting means carried by saidconduit-providing means and engaging said beverage container and theinner casing wall to maintain the same spaced.

2. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, having an outer casing, an innercooling fluid-chamberproviding casing having its bottom wall spaced fromthe bottom wall of the outer casing, a drain pan carried by the frontWall of said outer casing, a beverage dispensing container having atleast a portion thereof extending into said cooling iiuid chamber,supply and dispensing means for said beverage container and thedispensing means being over said drain pan, separate venting and drainconduits leading from said beverage container and having outletslikewise discharging into said drain pan.

3. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, including a beverage dispensingcontainer, supply and dispensing means for said container, and separateventing and drain conduits leading from said container; a multiple valvecasing for said conduits, said casing having a vent chamber incorporatedin said vent conduit and a drain chamber included in said drain conduit,a valve controlling the flow through said drain chamber, a flushingwater supply line, said valve casing having a flushing water inletchamber, a valve seat separating said flushing water inlet chamber fromsaid vent chamber, a ushing water control valve normally engaging saidseat, a vent control valve for said venting conduit, and control meansfor said drain and flushing water control valves.

4. In a beverage dispensing apparatus including a c-losed beveragecontainer, conduit means for drawing beverage therefrom, a separatepressure relief conduit for said container, means for supplying ushingwater to said container, valve means for selectively discharging saidflushing water through each condut, and a combination pressure reliefvalve and purge cock on said pressure relief conduit. l

5. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, including a closed beveragecontainer, conduit means for drawing beverage therefrom, separateconduit means for draining said container, a separate air pressurerelief conduit leading from said container, means for supplying aflushing liquid to said container, and valve means for selectivelydischarging said flushing liquid through each conduit.

6. The structure of claim 5, and a combination pressure relief valve andpurge cock on said pressure relief conduit.

JOHN L. NORTON. ABRAHAM S. LEVIN.

